Improvement in machines for bending wood



UrvrrED STATES PATENT orriroa BARNABAS A. HIGGINS, OF NEW PORTLAND,MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR BENDING WOOD.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 156,471, dated May 5,1874; applicationfiled March 21, 1874. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, B. ATWOOD HIGGINS, of New Portland, in the county ofSomerset and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Machine for Bending Wood to form the tops of shovel handles, &c., ofwhich the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a top view of my improved machine, the cap lever beingthrown back to show the forms. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof my improved machine taken through the line w a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is avertical crosssection of the same taken through the line 11 y, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved machine forforming the tops of shovel and fork handles 850., which shall be simplein construction, inexpensive in manufacture, and effective in operation,forming the tops rapidly, and at the same time so gently as not tobreakor split the handle, and will hold said tops in perfect shape untilseasoned. The invention consists in the twoforms constructed ashereinafter described, and operating, in connection with each other anda suitable mechanism, for forming the tops of shovelhandles, 860., asset forth.

A is the table of the machine, the two side parts and one end of whichare stationary, and the middle part a slides longitudinally in guides toattached to said stationary parts. To the under side of the forward endof the movable part a of the table is hinged the forward end of arackbar, B, the teeth of which mesh into the teeth of a smallgear-wheel, 0, attached to a shaft, D, which revolves in brackets E,attached to the under side of the stationary side parts of the table A.To the shaft D is also attached a larger gear-wheel, F, the teeth ofwhich mesh into the teeth of a small gear-wheel, Gr, attached to theshaft H, one.

B and allow the slide a to be run back without stopping the drivingmechanism. Upon the lower part of the rear end of the lever K is formeda toe, k ,'which enters a notch in the forward side of a lever, L, whichis pivoted to one of the brackets E, and has two notches formed in itsoas to receive and hold the said lever K both when raised and whenlowered. The lever L is held forward against the toe k of the lever K bya spring, M, attached to the bracket E. The upper end of the catch leverL projects so as to be struck by a stop, N, attached to the lower sideof the slide a as the said slide reaches the end of its movement, and bethrown back, releasing the rear end of the lever K automatically andallowing said rear end to rise, raising the rack-bar B out of gear andsupporting it while the slide a is being run back. The rear end of thelever K is raised, when released from the catch-lever L, by the weight0, suspended from its forward end. The forward end of the lever K israised to lower its rear end and allow the rack-bar B to drop into gearby a crank or bent lever, P, which works in bearings attached to thetable A. .The rear or inner end of the lever P is connected with thelever K, and its outer end projects upward into such a position that itcan be conveniently reached and operated by the attendant. Q is the formor die that gives shape to the top of the handle, and which rests in arecess in the plate R, which is firmly secured to the stationary endpart of the table A. The central part of the form Q is made wedge shapeto enter the saw-kerf in the end of the handle and spread said end, theparts of the said handle being guided around the said central part ofthe form by the outer or side parts or flanges of said form. S is a formor die to give shape to the lower part of the top of the handle andprevent said handle from being split by the operation of the form Q. Theform S is placed in a recess in a plate, T, attached to the upper sideof the forward end of the slide a U is a cap-lever for preventing thehandle from rising out of the forms Q S while being forced into place,and which is pivoted at one end to a bracket, V,

attached to the table A at one side of the form Q. To the table A at theother side of the form Q is attached bracket W, which is made with ahook or shoulder, beneath which the free end of the cap-lever U is swungand by which it is held in place. To the upper side of the rear end ofthe slide a is secured a stop, X, against which the end of the handlerests while being forced forward into the form Q, and which is slottedto receive the screw or bolt by which it is secured, so that it may beconveniently adjusted according to the length of the handle to beoperated upon. W'hen the top of the handle has been formed, the handleand the forms Q S are detached and laid aside to season, and another setof forms are placed in the machine, and the top of another handle isformed. The handles must be soaked in hot water or steamed before beingput into the machine.

H aving' thus described my invention, 1 claim as new. and desire tosecure by Letters latent The forms Q and S, constructed substantially asherein shown and described, and combined with each other and describedmechanism for forming the tops of shovel-handles,

&c., as set forth.

BARNABAS ATWOOD HIGGINS. Witnesses JOHN D. DAVIS, J NO. P. HODSDON.

